Tenter clip



Dec. 1,m`l937. J. E. PETERSON 2,102,026

TENTERLIP Filed Aug. 3, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet l .wh Nwwl %\M Mm mm Dec. 14, 19377.4 J. E. PETERSON TENTER CLIP Filed Aug. 5, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORY I N V EN TOR. Zffsam Dec. 14, 1937. 1 E PETERSON 2,102,026

TENTER CLIP Filed Aug. 3, 1936 l 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 4/ WWP/iff l "21 ww 4Z 44 ya: Il

ATTQRNEY Dec. 14, 1937. J. EQ PETERSON TENTER CLIP Filed Aug. 5, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Dec. 14, 1937 'e p x,

anatre UNITED STATES FENT OFFQE TENTER our ri'ohn E. Peterson, Irvington, N.`\l'. y App-ligation August 3, 1936, serial No. 94,024

14 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved form of tenter clip, such as are used on cloth or fabric stretching machines. One of the obje-cts of my invention is to provide a tenter clip in which the jaw members are much improved in form whereby a better and more economical clip is obtained, the lower jaw being readily removable whereby the gripping blade may be sharpened or renewed while the upper jaw terminates in a self-alining member, thereby assuring that the selvedge or edge of the cloth is gripped along the entire lengthV of the two jaws.

Another object of my invention is to provide for more positive and accurate positioning of the lower jaw of the clip. Another object is to provide an improved type of control for the upper jaw of the clip.

A still further object is to provide improved means of passing heating fluid such as steam to that part of the cloth which is initially positioned within the connes of the clip. A stillV further object of my invention is to provide an improved method of lubricating the driving parts associated with the clip.

These and other objects will be determinable to those skilled in this particular art from a reading of the specification taken in connection with the annexed drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a part elevational and part sectional view through my improved type of clip.

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure l but showing the operating parts in a different position, that is to say, with the upper jaw released to a position just prior to its engagement with the cloth or goods to be stretched.

Figure 3 is a View similar to Figures 1 and 2 but with the parts moved into full gripping position.

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional View through the clip on the line ll-lt of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a part elevational and part sectional view on a somewhat enlarged scale of the clip on the line 5-5 of Figure 6 with the upward jaw in the position as in Figure 3 but with yno cloth in position, and the controller of the parts not being shown.

Figure 6 is a part elevational and part sectional view of the base of the clip looking at the front of Figure 5 but showing only the lower portion of the upper jaw.

Figure 7 is a sectional view on the line 'I-I of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a view on the line 8--8 of Figure 5 showing that side elevation of the upper jaw member.

(o1. ecsazi Figure 9 is a fragmentary view showing the manner of preventing endwise motion in the lower jaw of the clip.

Figure 10 is a front View of the clip showing its location on the endless chain supporting a 5 plurality of clips.

Figure l1 is a part elevational and part sectional view of Figure 10.

Figure l2 is a sectional view through one of the drive links of the chain carrying the clips.

Figure 13 is a fragmentary plan View of my new type' of controller.

In the various views wherein like numbers refer to corresponding parts, I is a base having an arm 2 extending or projecting over the front portion of the base I. In the usual construction, the base I and arm 2 are cast as an integral structure. The forward end of the arm 2 is bifurcated so as to have two spaced lugs 3 and I which in turn carry a pivot pin 5 which passes through bearings and l forming part of a lever 8 having an upwardly extending arm 9 and a lower depending portion I Attached to the' portion i@ is a jaw II which carries a bushing I2 through both of which a pivot pin in the form of a rivet I3 passes, the ts between the bushing I2 and the parts I0 and II being such that the member II may swing about the pin I3 as a pivot The opposite ends of the member lI are each provided with a hole I4 to receive a fastening member in the form of a rivet I5 which passes through the sides vof the member II and a bushing I6 which has a clearance 59between it and the member I. likewise the length of the bushing I6 is such that the sides of the member I I t rather'loosely against the opposite sides of the member I0 so that the jaw member I I may oscillate or be'rockable about the pivot I3v whereby the jaw member II, which it will be seen is formed somewhat U-shaped to give a wide 40 ilat surface to engage the goods, will be selfalining on the movable member I Il. These end bearings, including the rivets I5 and bushings I5, are very advantageous when thick or heavy cloth is being stretched in the machine, as they will act to transmit the pull taken up by the jaw II tothe member II) and thus relieve the strain on the central pivot I3. Extending rearwardly from the member Il are two arms II and I8 which are fastened together at their extremi- 50 ties by a stud I9 carrying a roller lll between the arms. lThe roller is positioned in the throat 20 formed by extending members 2I and 22 comprising parts of the arms 23 thereby forming a controller for the clip. The ends 22 of the arms 55 23 when the controller is in the position shown in Figure 3, are positioned in a pair of slots 46 to be later referred to, but there is a clearance 63 between the portions 22 and the base I.

There are two arms 23 each having a hub 24 which are securely fastened as by soldering or welding as at 25 to a pin 26 which is carried by a mounting block 21 having a pin 28 extending through a cross bore in a part 29 of the base I which in turn is provided with a hole 30. Located in the hole 30 is a plunger 3l having a cross bore to receive the pin 28. The outer end of the plunger 3l is threaded to receive a tensioning screw 32 on the head of which a locking means such as a lock washer 33 is used. From the construction just described, it will be seen that the controller and the two arms 23 and mounting may be adjusted forward and back and then locked in position by drawing up on the screw 32 causing the plunger 3| to grip the pin against the side walls of the hole 36, and thus locking the pin 28 securely in position. Objects of this adjustment of the controller will be later pointed out but it should be further noted from the description just given that the movable member Ill carrying the upper jaw and having spaced arms I1 and I8 carrying the stud and roller I9 which engages the spaced arms 23 of the controller, provides a controller with a double bearing surface and eliminates the side wabble which is inherent in prior art controllers.

The lower jaw 34 may be provided with three bearing lugs 35 only two of which are shown in the abbreviated view of Figure 6 and these lugs are notched out at 36 as will be seen in several of the gures, for example Figure 5. The notches 36 are adapted to be positioned over a support rod 31 preferably non-removably carried by lugs 38 at the opposite sides of the clip. The movable jaw member 34 carries a gripping plate 39 which may be held to the jaw 34 in any manner as by rivets 46. The jaw 34 has a centrally located lug 4I to position the jaw 34 in normal idle position against the side wall of the base I. The jaw 34 is held in this position by a plunger 42 and a spring 43 located in the base. This idle position of the lower jaw provides a clearance space 60 between the blade 39 and the face of the upper jaw II so the blade will not be dulled when the upper jaw drops down as it may under certain conditions of operation. The outer end of the plunger is preferably conical in shape to fit the cooperating seat 44 in the side of the jaw 34. This construction centralizes the lower jaw and prevents end motion whereby a space 45 is maintained between the end of the jaw 34 and the end lugs 38 (see Figure 6). The plunger 42 is positioned in such a manner in the base that when the jaw 34 is removed from its mounting by simply lifting it off the rod 31, the plunger will be prevented from leaving the bore in which it is positioned through the position of the rod 31 which it will engage after the jaw 34 has been removed.

The base I of the clip is provided with a plurality of grooves 46 which extend, from the junction of the arm. on the base, to the edge of the base adjacent the lower jaw 34. In addition, the front guide rail 41 is also slotted at 48 in alinement with the slots 46 so that steam or other fluid such as hot air can be passed under the cloth 49 at this point as well as into the slots back of the jaw 34 on opposite sides of the boss 4I and into the grooves 46 thereby allowing the edge or selvedge of the cloth to be treated with steam where it is in engagement with the clip.

In normal operation, an operating member shown by dotted lines 56 holds the arm 9 in position as indicated in Figure 1 whereby the cloth may be passed into the clip as indicated in Figure 1. As the clip moves forward on the carrier chain the member 50 passes from engagement with the arm 9 and the lever drops down so that the upper jaw II is in the position shown n Figure 2 and the controller arms 23 are in engagement with the cloth. In this position the upper jaw II is slightly out of contact with the cloth and the stops 6I and 62, which hold the member I in the position as shown in Figure 5 under certain operating conditions, are just separated.

As the chain moves the clips along the machine, the cloth moves outwardly from under the controller arms 23 to the position shown in Figure 3 whereby the controller allows the member I 6 carrying the upper jaw II to move into engagement with the cloth or goods, the pull of which tilts the lower jaw 36 into gripping relation with the cloth between the two jaws thereby holding the cloth or goods against the flat face I of the upper jaw. Then the cloth will be stretched in the well-known manner. By making the controller adjustable as heretofore described, the width of the edge or selvedge of the cloth can be materially reduced making a great saving in the selvedge. In addition, the distance from where the cloth or goods is gripped may be varied to suit the weave of the cloth, that is to say, a ner weave will require a very small selvedge whereas a coarser weave will require a greater selvedge edge, all of which can be regulated by adjusting the controller.

It may be noted in passing that in movement of the controller arm, the projecting end 22 passes through slots 5I cut in the member II to allow freedom of movement of these portions of the controller arms. Also when the controller is in the position shown in Figure 1, the end 22 of the controller arms is positioned in the clearance space 64 provided in the arm 2.

The clip is provided with bosses 66 in the base for receiving the studs 52 securely anchored to a connecting bar or slide link 53. The studs 52 also carry sprocket drive links 54 which are provided with a flat surface 55 adapted to engage the guide flange 56 on a support frame 51 of the tenter machine. A tentering machine, while varying in length according to the work to be done, is usually of considerable length, many such machines being one hundred feet or more in length. Consequently, the drive chain of which the links 54 are part, must be very strong and their weight is considerable so that it becomes a big problem to properly lubricate the chain carrying the clips. I have solved this lubricating problem in the arrangement shown in Figures 10, 11 and 12. In this construction the link 54 has a deep recess or cavity on the side next to the guide flange 56 and in this cavity which is of considerable size, is positioned a wick member preferably formed of felt. It will be noted from Figure 12 that the cavity opens into the hole through which the studs 52 pass. Thus the drive studs themselves as well as the bearing surfaces 55 can be well lubricated without the lubricant escaping and getting up onto the base of the clip where the cloth is positioned. It will be understood that when the felt is assembled with the links 54 on the machine, the felts are supplied with the proper amount of oil and then if necessary the machine may be supplied with an oil feed at one or more places so that the felts 58 can pick up additional oil if desired.

Various changes may be made in the details, for example, the lower jaw may be made of one piece of steel with a` sharpened cloth engaging edge, instead of some other material such as cast iron with a steel insert 39 as shown in the drawings." If madevof one piece of steel, the groove for engaging the rod 37 would be ordinarily milled the whole length ofthe jaw. It may be also mentioned that the clip frame can be covered with a coating oi' vitreous enamel.

It may, also be mentioned that the guide rail 41 is to provide a support for the cloth during its outward movement, and to prevent the cloth from dragging on the sharp edge of the lower jaw. This dragging might result in the cloth getting caught on the sharp edge, causing the lower jaw to become prematurely tilted before the upper jaw is in a gripping position.

It is also very important to avoid having the cloth or goods catch onto anything, on 1ts outward movement in the clip, especially where elastic material is being stretched, such as georgette or crinkly stuif because if this catches momentarily and then lets go, it acts like a rubber band when it is stretched and released, and the goods flies out of the clip before the jaws can grab it.

From what has been said, it will be clear that I have designed a tenter clip having many new features .which have been specifically outlined as -well as an improved means of carrying a clip on the tenter machine.

What I claim is:

1. A tenter clip including a base having an overhanging arm, a movable member carried by said arm and extending downwardly toward said base a jaw oscillatably carried by said movable memberjsaid oscillatable jaw comprising a member, a transverse section of which along its length is substantially U-shaped, the arms of the U being positioned around the end of said carrying member and pivotally mounted thereto at the center of said jaw and also having slightly looseend anchorages connecting said jaw member to said movable carrying member, a jaw tiltably carried by said base below the first-mentioned jaw and having a relatively sharp gripping edge adaptedlto cooperate with the first-mentioned jaw to grip a piece of goods positioned between said jawsjisaid lower jaw being readily removable from th'`.base and a controller carried by the base for'controlling the time at which the cloth is grippedby said jaws, said controller having two spaced arms carried on a common pivotal mounting, said mounting being slidably adjustable directly on said base.

2. A tenter clip as set forth in claim 1 further characterized in that the lower jaw is longitudinally notched, the notched portions adapted to slidably t over a rod permanently secured to the base.

3. A tenter clip as set forth in claim 1 further characterized in that the lower jaw is notched, the notched portions adapted to slidably fit over a rod carried by the base below the lower jaw and extending across the clip parallel to said jaw. y

4. A tenter clipas set forth in claim 1 further characterized in that the lower jaw is notched, the notched portions adapted to slidably t over a rod carried by the base below the lower jaw and resiliently mounted means in the base engaging the lower jaw to positively hold it in normal idle position and to prevent lateral shifting of the same.

5. A tenter clip as set forth in claim l further characterized in that the lower` jaw is notched, the notched portions adapted to slidably fit over a rod carried by the base below the lower jaw, and a plunger positioned in the base and spring pressed into a socket engagement with the lower jaw to hold it in normal idle position and to prevent lateral shifting of the same.

6. A tenter clip as set forth in claim l further characterized in that the lower jaw is notched, the notched portions adapted to slidably fit over a rod carried by the base below the lower jaw, and a plunger positioned in the base and spring pressed into a socket engagement with the lower jaw to hold it in normal idle position and to prevent lateral shifting of the same, the plunger being located in the base so it is prevented by said jaw supporting rod from flying out when the jaw is removed from the clip.

7. A tenter clip as set forth in claim l further characterized in that the lower jaw is notched, the notched portions adapted to slidably t over a rod carried by the base below the lower jaw and resiliently mounted means in the base engaging the lower jaw to hold it in normal idle position to prevent lateral shifting of the same and said rod comprising means to prevent said resiliently mounted means from being displaced from its mounting when the lower jaw is removed from the clip.

8. A tenter clip as set forth in claim 1 further characterized in that the lower jaw is notched, the notched portions adapted to slidably t over a rod carried by the base below the jaw, the lower jaw having a Separate knife-edge engaging plate removably held therein and further characterized in that the base has a slotted guide rail positioned in front of the jaw to guide the goods engaged by the clip jaws and to convey a fluid into contact with the goods at least at this rail edge.

9. A tenter clip as set forth in claim 1 further characterized in that the lower jaw is notched,

the notched portions adapted to slidably t over a rod carried by the base below the lower jaw, and a plunger positioned in the base and spring pressed into a socket engagement with the lower jaw to hold it in normal idle position and to prevent lateral shifting of the same, the plunger being located in the base so it is prevented by said jaw supporting rod from flying out when the jaw is removed from the clip, and further characterized in that the base has a guide rail having cross slots therein while the base back of the guide rail also has slots, said sets of slots serving to carry a fluid such as steam into contact with the edge of the goods engaged by the clip jaws.

10. In a tenter clip having a base with upper and lower jaws supported therein for gripping a piece of goods positioned between said jaws and a controller for the upper jaws for starting the same into gripping relationship with the lower jaw; characterized in that the base has a hole with a vertically adjustable plunger located therein, said base having a bore intercepting said hole, said plunger also having a cross bore while the controller has a mounting pin adapted to go through both of said bores and to be gripped against the walls of said hole by said adjustable plunger.

11. In a tenter clip having a base with upper and lower jaws supported therein for gripping a piece of goods positioned between said jaws and a controller for the upper jaws for starting the same into gripping relationship with the lower jaw; characterized in that the controller is provided with two spaced arms carried on a common pivotal mounting, said mounting including a pin passing into a cross bore in the base, said base having a hole intercepting said cross bore, a plunger located in said hole and having a cross bore through which said pin passes and means for moving the plunger to cause the same to grip the pin in any adjusted position against the walls of said hole.

12. A tenter clip including a base having an overhanging arm, a movable member carried by said arm and extending downwardly toward said base, a jaw oscillatably carried by said movable member, a jaw tiltably carried by said base below the first-mentioned jaw and having a part adapted to cooperate with the first-mentioned jaw to grip a piece of goods positioned between said jaws, said lower jaw being readily removable from the base, means carried by the base to normally hold the lower jaw in non-engaging position and also to prevent lateral movement of the jaw, a controller for the clip adjustably carried by the base, and a guide rail on the base in front of the lower jaw, the rail and base back of the lower jaw having fluid-receiving grooves therein.

13. In a tenter machine, a clip having cooperative upper and lower jaws, carried by a base member, said base member having a pair of holes therein to receive driving studs anchored to slide links, means for lubricating said studs where they are engaged by a driving element, said element comprising a chain drive link having a hole at each end to receive va stud from adjacent slide links, said lubricating means comprising a deep recess on one side of the drive link which extends a substantial distance beyond the median line through the center of the pins embraced by the link, the length of the recess along the length of the link being sufficient so that the recess intercepts and embraces a very substantial arcuate length of said link holes and a felt pad filling said recess and contacting over a relatively large area with said studs, said felt also being positioned to engage'the surface of, a guide member on the tenter machine. e

14. In a tenter machine, a clip drive link having holes for studs going through the link and into the clip, said link having a deep recess 'on one side of the drive link which extends a substantial distance beyond the median line through the center of the pins embraced by the link, the length of the recess along the length of the link being suicient so that the recess intercepts and embraces a very substantial varcuate length ofv said link holes and a lubricant pad lling said recess so as to engage the studs over a relatively large area and also the wall of a guide member on the tenter machine.

JOHN E. PETERSON. 

